Swarthmore has three different rounds of applications for first-year students: Fall Early Decision (November 15), Winter Early Decision (January 4), and Regular Decision (January 4). Please note Early Decision is a binding decision. Regardless of the application round, we continue to meet our financial aid commitments.

If your child is the first person in your family to attend college, or if you come from a low-income background, you may qualify for SwatPass, our application fee waiver program. 

Providing an accessible and affordable education is at the core of who we are. We meet 100% of a family’s demonstrated financial need without loans in our aid decisions.

Our admissions review is need blind, which means we don’t consider your ability to pay when we evaluate your application for admission. This policy applies to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, eligible non-citizens (such as refugees), and undocumented students who graduate from a high school in the United States.

Schedule a tour, book an information session, talk with our deans and current students, or find ways to explore our campus virtually. Whether your student has been admitted or you’re just starting your college journey, we’re here to support you. 

As we review applications for admission, we are seeking students who will thrive in our collaborative campus environment – often those who exhibit qualities of intellectual curiosity, creativity, generosity, civic engagement, and open-mindedness. Swarthmore practices holistic admissions and committee based evaluations. Thus, there is truly no one formula for admissions to Swarthmore and also no one definition of a “Swattie.”

To promote a more inclusive definition of what it means to be "first-generation," Swarthmore defines first-generation broadly to include:

• Students whose parents/guardians did not graduate from a four-year institution;
• Students with parents/guardians with some collegiate experience; and
• Students with parents/guardians who graduated from college and universities outside the United States who have limited experience and knowledge of the college experience in the United States.

The Swat FLI (First-Gen/Low-Income) Program assists first-generation, low income, and undocumented/DACA students in building community, finding support, and taking advantage of college resources. 

Guided by our mission of academic excellence without financial barriers, Swarthmore’s dedication to affordability and access is rare among colleges and universities. This sense of purpose informs how we interact with students and families before they even apply, through the admission and financial aid application processes, and all the way through their time at Swarthmore.

We encourage you to learn more about how we support students and families from a wide range of backgrounds with initiatives including application fee waivers, fly-in programs for prospective and admitted students, QuestBridge, and support for undocumented students. 

In this context, liberal means freeing, as in to liberate, while arts refers to disciplines of knowledge and thought. Students at a liberal arts college like Swarthmore can explore 40+ majors in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, including engineering — all while enjoying easy access to small classes, professors, research opportunities, and a wealth of resources. By teaching students how to effectively learn, think, and communicate across disciplines, a Swarthmore liberal arts education gives students lifelong professional flexibility and sets them up for promising and rewarding careers after college. 

Almost two-thirds of Swatties participate in funded research projects with faculty and nearly 75% of students will gain professional experience through internships during their undergraduate years. Our graduates pursue a variety of careers across many different sectors. Swatties are lifelong learners with over 90% of students attending graduate school within five years of graduation. We have an 80% acceptance rate to medical school and 86% to law school — both higher than the national average.

Offering over 600 courses each year, Swarthmore students are invited to explore different ways of thinking to build unique academic paths that can also draw from our various consortiums with Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and the University of Pennsylvania. The first semester at Swarthmore is graded on a pass/fail basis that allows students to focus on their transition to college and explore multiple disciplines. When students declare their major in their sophomore year’s spring semester, they will choose between the traditional Course style or Honors Program.

Every Swarthmore student receives academic guidance in multiple ways including pre-major advisors, major advisors, free tutoring in the form of Teaching Assistants (TAs), and pre-professional support through our Career Services. There is also an easily accessible Writing Center on campus, in addition to other mentoring programs including the Richard Ruben Scholars and Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. 

Swarthmore has over 150 clubs and organizations, plus countless campus traditions. Our cash-free campus means that there are no “additional fees” at Swarthmore — nearly everything is included in the annual activity fee, so amenities like laundry, printing, textbooks, music performances, movie nights, and athletic events are free and open to all students. Additionally, through our Textbook Affordability Program, every student receives an annual $790 grant to cover the cost of textbooks and course materials. With a train station on campus and close proximity to Philadelphia, students can also expand their academic, professional, and social opportunities with the cost of transit covered by the College.

The diverse perspectives brought by students, staff, and faculty allow for open dialogue, making Swarthmore the collaborative and culturally rich community it is today. Swarthmore has an Intercultural Center, Black Cultural Center (BCC), and Gender & Sexuality Center (GSC), in addition to many other programs and offices such as the First-Gen & Low-Income (FLI) Office, Student Disability Services, LGBTQ+ resources, and the Questbridge Community that support this critical mission through events and campus wide programs, initiatives, and policies that address all members and aspects of the community.

We are a close-knit and highly residential college with about 95% of students living on campus in one of the 18 residence halls. Additionally, students are guaranteed housing for all four years. Incoming first-years are assigned a roommate and a hall after filling out a Housing Questionnaire. Within the residence halls, there are residential peer leaders including Residential Assistants, Student Academic Mentors, and Green Advisors who are all there to support your student. 

While on campus, students will have access to a 24/7 Public Safety office, individualized clinical care through our Student Health & Wellness Center, and psychological support and consultation through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Swarthmore also covers health insurance to those who are uninsured.